Two qualified drivers will steer the decommissioned BTR60 eight-wheel armoured personnel carriers from the East end of the strip to a 10.45am press conference at the Carlton.

Only Jet Li and Terry Crews will be unable to join the promotional event for the action sequel due to prior commitments.

Naturally the $2m operation of getting everyone into Cannes, booking rooms at the Hotel du Cap and renting tanks from a UK company was planned with military precision.

“The first idea was a zipline from the top of the Carlton to the beach,” said Millennium Films president Mark Gill. “Then we called the insurance company. We considered helicopters and settled on tanks.”

The Expendables 3 will open in August in the US through Lionsgate. Nu Image handles international sales.

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